Sunday, February 10, 2013

Blog Post #4: Determining the Imporatnce of Curriculum




A.      How do you think you will do determining what is important in curriculum?
  
 I think this might be hard my first year as I myself will still be learning how to be a good teacher. I think it will be challenging but through every activity and lesson I do with the students  I  be closer to determining what is or isn’t important. I also think seeking the help of my team will clarify what is important.

What type of an active learner and decision-maker are you?
                I like learning and discussing in groups. I always gain a lot from others ideas and inputs. I can make decision easily but I like to hear others opinions.

Respond to the bulleted list (with explanations, beginning at the bottom of page 58 and ending in the top, right-hand column of p. 60) of evidence Carol shares to support the fact that trying to completely cover the core curriculum is not effective.  Were you aware of all of these reasons?  Are there any that you disagree with?  

I agree with Carol on the majority of the bulleted list, but always thought we were expected to teach every part of the curriculum. Reading this made it clear that there is no way a student can actively learn and retrieve all information that is to be covered in the curriculum. If you want learning to be meaningful you need pick what is important in helping the students and what they will be able to connect with. It is better to teach less so that the students can understand it well than teach too much and the students start tuning everything out or lose faith in themselves. Teaching students how to find information for them self is essential in helping them become successful adults.

B.      Within the description of Mr. Johnson's 5th grade study of buoyancy (beginning on p. 69 and ending on p. 87), please find at least 4 specific ideas or descriptions that verify to you that Mr. Johnson is a "fox-taming teacher."  Cite the page on which you find each idea, and share your personal reflection about each.

1.       “Mr. Johnson specifies in his curriculum plans exactly what his students must know, understadnd, and be able to do related to the topic.”(p. 69)

This proves that Mr. Johnson thinks ahead and does a lot of planning for his lessons. This is essential in being a “fox-taming teacher. You need to anticipate ahead of time what might happen and have clear expectations of what the students need to know so you can base your instruction off of it.

2.       “…He has a roadmap for continually assessing student progress as the unit moves along.” (p. 70)

This indicates that Mr. Johnson is constantly reflecting on his teaching methods and how they have or haven’t worked for his students so he can adjust if needed. This can make all the difference. If you aren’t getting through to a student you need to be able to recognize it and admit that you might not be teaching it right for them.

3.       “For advanced learners, he will plan appropriate challenges that extend essential understanding rather than using extraneous activities to fill time. For students who struggle, he will plan multiple ways to teach and revisit the essentials.” (p. 71)

Mr. Johnson doesn’t use a one-size fits all method. He understands that no two students are going to learn exactly the same way so he needs to do different things. If you do this no student should be left behind, they will all be successful in your classroom and hopefully in their future endeavors.

4.       “Mr. Johnson plays the role of consultant for a company seeking to engage services for boat design and asks a ride range of questions about his observations. In the end, he guides them to accurate statements about density, displacement, and buoyancy.”(p.74)

This shows the students that he is invested in them and is taking the time to help them.  This is essential in making the student feel comfortable in the classroom and in making them feel valued. This is something that needs to be established quickly to gain students trust.

No comments:

Post a Comment